Plastic Plants

James, my brother-in-law, has a green thumb & knows all about plants. He can nurse anything back to life. He rescued a Pony Tail Palm from a co-worker several years ago and now it is on his porch and is about 5 feet tall. One thing James truly hates is plastic plants. And I totally agree. Why would anyone have a plastic plant? Most plastic plants and flowers are just darn ugly and generally don't look like any actual plant.

This visual specimen of polymer chains is in my Bible Study class. It is usually in the front of the class behind the teacher. I can not focus enough to listen with this "plant" in my view. I try get to class early and move this thing to the back of the room. I think it looks evil and the branch with the missing fronds reminds me of an arm with the hand cut off.

This "lovely" arrangement is on the piano. It is dreary and dusty. I go into a deep depression just looking at it.

This was ugly in 1970.

I always prefer real flowers and plants, with their special scents & colors. Some of my best memories are of yellow roses for birthdays, red roses for Valentines, and life plants for special occasions. Plastic seems to say "I'm here, but my heart's not in it."

As a Wimpy-mother-of-three I am finding that life is too short for anything fake.

Winston!

This is Winston - my adopted Greyhound. I got him from the kennel in West Memphis that rescues the dogs when they are retired from racing. The rescue kennel is located right behind the dog track.

Winston has led an exciting life. He has run and won a lot of races over the last 5 years. I'm sure he has made some body a LOT of money! His racing name was "License to Win"; I changed it to more reflect his stoic personality. All Winston has ever known is racing! I have tried to teach Winston how to play, chase after toys, and shake for treats. Win has the "treat thing" down.

One thing I have not had to teach Winston is how to relax! Greyhounds have 2 speeds - 35 miles/hour or O miles/hour! Winston can lay around all day! He takes his retirement very seriously. As a Wimpy mother-of-three active boys, this was a lesson to me. This year has found me in a partially empty nest. Instead of mourning and longing for the past, I need to move on to the next stage of life. The book of Daniel tells us that God changes the times and the seasons. (Daniel 2:21) Change is true of our lives as well and God sends us different "seasons" of life. Winston and I are entering a new season of our lives: Retirement from racing for Winston; retirement from intense child rearing for me. Let the good times begin for a Wimpy mother-of-three!

Prada eating a RAT! Being a mother of three boys, I have hosted (and endured) a lot of pets: dogs, fish, rabbits, turtles, lizards, frogs, water dragons, rocks and SNAKES! Snakes are the most unwelcome creatures in my home. I am most certainly "Wimpy" when dealing with the snakes. I hate everything about them- the shedding, the feeding, the cage mess, and the smell. We presently have 2 snakes. I try not to even look at them when I enter the room. I truly believe these animals are cursed from God.

But as we look in the rear view mirror of our family's adventures, some of the boys' favorite memories are centered around our pets. Adam and Aaron always have a good laugh at my expense describing the infamous "Chinese Water Dragon Escape". This big green critter got out of his cage, then reappeared suddenly, days later, at the top of the dining room drapes. I'm still in therapy.

But I will always have a dog-shaped hole in my heart for Duke. This is Duke before we had him put-down last summer.

Duke was just a mutt. My brother gave Duke to us as a puppy predicting Duke would be a small dog. Duke grew to be almost 65 pounds; Duke was friendly, but large and in-charge!

One day I got a call from the local neighborhood Wal-mart. The manager was on the phone. The conversation went something like this:

"Hello"

"Is this the Morris residence?"

"Yes"

"I think we have your dog. Is your dog named Duke? We got this number from the dog tag."

"Yes. We have a dog named Duke."

"Well, this is the manager at Wal-mart on Memphis-Arlington. Duke was eating the croissants from the bread counter inside the store. He's a friendly dog. but could you come get him? We'll hold him till you get here."

"OK. I'll be right there"

Evidently the automatic doors can work for a dogs' advantage. But the funny thing about this episode at Wal-mart is that it happened at least 2 more times! I was too embarrassed to go back the 2nd & 3rd times for Duke, and just sheepishly sent one of the boys to retrieve him.

My wise sister recently posted a blog about all she had learned from her dog, Toni. I would agree that Duke also taught me some great life lessons. One being, 'Don t settle for plain white bread, when you can have croissants!'

I'm Fine.

As I glance in the rear view mirror of our lives, I use the information to make adjustments and move forward.

This handsome guy is Aaron, my middle son. He is currently a student at Middle Tennessee State University. Aaron is a lot like his mom, but in the male version. As I ponder his childhood, I see a lot of myself, for good or bad. Like me, Aaron plays his cards close to his vest & only shares when it is his idea!

His last two years of high school, I believe Aaron only spoke in mono syllables and grunts. It was like living with a caveman! The answer to every question was "fine". How was school? "Fine" Work? "Fine" Girlfriend? "Fine"

I began requiring Aaron to speak to me in complete subject & verb sentences! How was work? "Work was fine." Finally, I required him to speak at least one sentence with a minimum of ten words. And don't think for one minute he ever spoke a sentence with eleven.

When Aaron was in 9th grade, we had to see a neurologist for his severe migraine headaches. After multiple tests & medical questionnaires, doctors could not pinpoint a cause for the headaches. Only recently did Aaron share with us that he had been in a fight at the local mall. Evidently, another boy had slammed Aaron's head into the concrete during the scuffle. The headaches started soon after this incident. That would have been nice to have known at the time.

After this look in the rear view mirror, I have tried to back off from asking Aaron so many questions. This was an adjustment to improve our relationship. I like to talk when I'm in the mood, so I have had to allow Aaron the same privilege. I sure miss him, even when he is quiet.

The Gadget Guy!

This is my husband, Jeff, also know as "the Gadget-Guy". Jeff recently took the wedding photos for my niece's wedding. The wedding took less than 2 hours to photograph, but 6 months to order and buy all the gadgets and equipment. At the church that Saturday, there were two digital cameras, 2 fancy camera bags, two tripods, flashes, extra batteries, various lenses and extra memory cards. Enough equipment to photograph a celebrity wedding!

This is the Gadget-Guy's office! Really! We have every electronic gadget and boy toy known to man, usually in multiples.
remote control cars gas & electric

remote control helicopters gas & electric

scanners


copiers/printers

computers

shredders

cables

phones

enough paint-ball guns for twenty players along with masks & shirts

Scuba equipment - tanks, buoyancy vests, fins, & bags to hold it all.

The good thing about all this is that Gadget Guy can fix/build/repair about anything! He is great to have around the house! Gadget Guy is the complete opposite of me. The most complicated gadget I can successfully function with is a can-opener. Gadget Guy, You complete me!

Trucks! Trucks! Trucks!

Living in a house full of boys of all ages, we have always owned trucks and SUV's! We have owned almost every make and model of truck and/or SUV.

1. Mazda B2000
2. Dodge Dakota
3. Chevy 1500 4x4
4. Ford Explorer Sport Trac
5. Ford F150
6. Ford Explorer SUV
7. Ford Expedition SUV

Black is my husband's favorite color for vehicles. At one time we owned 3 black vehicles. Our driveway was like a Goth parking lot.

Now we have a truck in my backyard. This was once my son's truck that he used for a landscaping business. This bad boy has a new transmission but no working motor! This truck is also missing a tailgate. (Apparently there is a weight limit for tailgates- a pallet full of field stone exceeds the limit)

One day some friends needed to get into my house while I was unavailable. They called me asking about a key. I called Adam to ask about the spare house key. Apparently Adam had left a house key in the seat of his truck in the backyard with the doors unlocked. My friends scaled the fence, got the key, and got into the house. I'm sure there is a red-neck joke in there somewhere!

Reflections in the Rear View Mirror

As I look back over my life at the age of 50, it seems like ten minutes ag0 that my boys were young. I try not to dwell on the bad times that every family has, but on the funny, family moments we shared. In my unique position as the only female in a household full of testosterone, (even the dog was male) I wonder how I did not go completely insane. I use this excuse for any idiosyncrasies I now have. My friends sometimes don't get it! Especially those with only daughters. I want to record some of my family's journey. Someday my children may need this to help them as they raise their children.

Noah, Aaron, Adam


Jeff & Christi